LED lights are becoming quite popular due to their energy-saving capabilities. As the days of predictable and cheap energy prices rapidly decrease, the impact of high power prices on industry budgets is amplifying the demand for more energy-efficient lighting solutions. What seemed like an expensive energy-saving option a decade ago, LED lights are becoming a common appliance now! Municipal corporations, small shops, commercial offices, and manufacturing companies are swapping their existing conventional lights with LEDs. Due to high demand, many firms are manufacturing LED lights and one should choose LEDs based on technical factors.
There are many factors to consider while choosing appropriate LEDs for any industrial environment. These factors can vary based on industry type, specific application and hence one needs to understand and follow these technical terms before buying commercial or industrial LED lighting solutions.
IP rating
Ingress Protection or IP ratings define its level of sealing effectiveness against interruption from foreign materials, like moisture and dirt. The rating ranges from IP65 to IP69, indicating the level of ingress protection. Usually, housing or residential projects use LED fixtures with higher IP capability, while industrial designs use a LED technology with low to medium rating.
Chemical resistance
Chemical resistance is one of the important factors to be considered in hose down and wet applications where chemicals are an integral part of the industry. Polycarbonate, owing to its durability, cost, and workability is widely used materials for lenses. Though it is durable, it can still cause color change or crack over time, if more acid-based chemicals are around. Some LEDs may get damaged due to exposure to chemicals and hence ensure to check compatibility before buying.
Color temperature (CT) and color rendering index (CRI)
Color Temperature ranges between 1,000 and 10,000kelvin, while LED lights have CT in the range of 3000k to 6500k. CRI is usually measured from 1 to 100, while LED lights have 70 – 80 CRI range.
Non-technical factors
Let’s also look at some of the non technical factors such as maintenance, warranty, safety certifications, and lifetime ratings. With LED-based solutions, some manufacturer offers 2 years warranty, while some offer five-years. Ensure that the warranty covers most of the hardware components, not just a sensor or power supply. The lifetime depends on the quality of components and quality of construction and when aligned properly, the best and top-notch LED fixtures can last up to 100,000 hours.
It’s time to choose the highest quality LED fixtures that meet international standards of safety and feature.
